What do you do when life as you know it changes forever and in an instant? For Lois Kramer-Perez, the process of healing from a devastating loss gave her the opportunity to not only heal herself, but to pass that healing onto others through her work.

As an FIT grad, Lois enjoyed an exciting career in the fashion industry. “I was able to express my creativity while being part of the process of ideas being brought to life in the form of sweaters and knitwear,” she says. A life-changing moment, however, led her to an even deeper place of inspiration.

That life-changing moment came in September 2000 when her husband of 19 years suffered a fatal heart attack at home. “In seeking a way to heal,” she shares, “I discovered Reiki, Feng Shui and personal and environmental clearing with dowsing.”

“My teachers and mentors brought me new inspiration and before long, it was time to say goodbye to the fashion industry and begin my new life devoted to creating change for person and place.”

Lois has developed simple yet effective techniques which offer her clients tools for awareness, clarity and empowerment. “I embrace diverse energy modalities such as Feng Shui, personal meditative clearing and environmental space clearing as a way of life. Each of these services, she explains, can provide anchors for creating change from the inside out.

“Through teaching, working with my clients and exploring with colleagues and mentors,” says Lois, “ I am always finding new things to learn and experience which I pass on to my students and clients.”

Lois believes the Universe drew her to this work through her late husband. In an introductory Feng Shui class, Lois was told that in class the following week, she would be learning about the I Ching. “I didn’t know anything about the ‘I Ching.” Later that evening while going through books in husband’s office, Lois came across a book: The Illustrated I Ching. “Wow!” she says, “I had no idea he had this book! I felt he left this book for me, that it was a sure sign I was on the right path, going in the right direction.”

We can all make a difference in the world. “Every person,” she says, “can make a difference by just being. As we each begin to find balance and embrace it, even for just a moment, all who are around us can experience the same. As part of the collective, we create the whole. As we can become peace, joy and balance, we influence all around us to join the experience, without words, without action, by just being.”

Lois is a published author and a member of the International Feng Shui Guild. She is also a faculty member at Ridgewood and Emerson Community Schools, and an annual presenter at Holy Name Medical Center Healthy Living Programs. She is available for private consultations, speaking engagements and will design a program to fit your needs to create balance and change that is perfect for you.

Meet Lois at the Awaken Wellness Fair on Sunday, April 29 and be sure to catch her presentation, “It’s All About You.”

In a recent interview with Lois Kramer-Perez we discussed her work as a Feng Shui practitioner, her incorporation of the Five Elements in her practice and how it has affected her understanding of not only herself, but also others. Excerpts from this illuminating discussion follow.

KM: Your work as a Feng Shui practitioner is based in the principles of the Five Elements. Tell us a bit more about how the Five Elements play out in your practice.

LKP: Each element has layers of information: a season, time of day, family member archetype, color, shape, and characteristic which relates to an expression in human nature. In my practice one of the systems I use is called the 9 Star Ki. This system is based on the 9 cycles in nature; each cycle has its own nature and characteristics. Each cycle is connected with one of the 5 elements in nature: water, tree (wood)*, fire, earth and metal. Aligning the 5 elements with the 9 cycles, 3 of the elements are refined further; there are 2 tree (wood)* energies, 2 metal energies and 3 earth energies. Hence the relation to the name of the system – star referring to cycle – ki referring to energy – 9 cycles of energy= “9 Star Ki”. *I prefer to refer to the element most often referred to as wood as “tree”. Tree is the one element in the system that is alive.

Using this 9 Star Ki system, each person has the potential for 3 elemental influences in their nature based on their year, month and day of birth. The position of these elements will also have an influence on how the characteristics are expressed. The most powerful aspect of this information is the behavior we express based on our elemental nature. The more we understand what makes us tick, the more we can create a lifestyle that supports us and have a better understanding of the people in our lives, creating more harmonious relationships.

Here are a few examples:

Metal Element– Control, Order, Precision A person who has an aspect of metal energy in their nature will be more comfortable when the situation is under control (usually their control) and their environment is neat and orderly, all things in their place.

Refined even further–

“6 Metal” energy relates to father’s energy: authority, being in control of everyone and everything

“7 Metal” energy is the most sensitive to the environment, from scents and the feel of fabrics on their skin, to the most important: energy – walking into a crowded room can be quite uncomfortable as this nature is so sensitive, they can feel everything going on around them.

Understanding the depth of how much this aspect is a part of a person can help them make better decisions on how to operate with their strengths on a daily basis.

Combining the 9 Star Ki with reading the physical aspects of a person, the information about the individual’s make-up becomes more unique. Our physical attributes are also connected with the 5 elements, for instance spiky hair and pointy nose adds the fire element. Shadows under the eyes or a dome forehead adds water element. These attributes may enhance an already present element or add an element not present in the birth year, month and day.
KM:The Five Elements are a very ancient theory that evolved in societies intimately tied to nature and the seasons for their survival. Many practices such as tai chi, chi gong, traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture were also influenced by them. How would you say Feng Shui compares in its incorporation of the Elements?

LKP: Feng Shui is everything because it is the one thing that ties us all together inside and out – who we are and how we relate to our environment. If we can create an environment where we are most comfortable and supported (based on the nature of the elements we most identify with) then we can express ourselves in a productive manner. We have a way to express our most inherent nature.

KM:If you were to choose one way in which the Elements have most impacted your experience or understanding of life, what would that be?

LKP: It has given me a brilliant way to understand who I am, why I express the way I do, and when I am out of balance, how to get back in balance. For example, I have a tendency towards the 6 Metal energy which I referred to earlier, metaphorically, authority and father’s energy. This nature was being expressed all the time. Whenever I was in a group, I would end up in charge. In my associations, I have been an associate director, a manager, a Vice President and on several committees. Every time I would get involved with an organization, the need to express being in control and being an authority figure kept coming up. Noticing this pattern has made a huge difference. I know I need to express this aspect of my nature, but now I can consciously choose how I want to do this instead of saying yes to everything without thought, then later on feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Also for understanding the people in my life, I would say it is brilliant because understanding the expressions through the 5 elements, there is no judgment. Knowing people are expressing their true nature allows compassion. It just is…

KM: I can relate so much to that. I lived with someone in my family with a very strong Metal order archetype. Everything had to be a very specific way for them. I could never understand why they were so obsessed with order. Now I can see how that was what felt most natural and necessary, even, for them to function happily in their home environment.What is the most important piece of advice you might offer someone interested in incorporating the Elements into their life?

LKP: Notice how you feel, then notice what is going on around you – that is the first step….

When you walk into your home – how do you feel? What is going on – is it easy to get in, what is the first thing you see? How does it make you feel? Supported, Peaceful, Balanced, Annoyed, Frustrated, Tired? These impressions are subconsciously creating an imprint every time you walk through your front door. Your body will begin to respond to these feelings before you even get there!

When we enter our homes it should feel nurturing, uplifting and safe. How we enter our homes should feel effortless. These are all metaphors for how we want to feel in our lives. What is happening inside of us is being reflected on the outside; therefore our space is a reflection of what is going in our lives. So what better way to create balance in our lives and support sustainable changes than to have our intention set in our physical space, creating support for all we need? Love everything about your space… connect to the colors, the shapes, the objects that connect to all the positive things you want to feel.

Lois Kramer-Perez photo: Michael Lawrence

Lois Kramer-Perez is an author and educator who, through private consultations or group classes, uses feng shui principles, intuitive methods with dowsing and meditative clearing to give her clients and students tools to make sustainable changes in their lives. To find out more about Lois, her classes and services, visit www.loiskramerperez.wordpress.com or contact Lois at lois[at]loiskramerperez[dot]com 201.906.5767